128 



AUSTRALASIA. 



gradually diminishing in extent, their muddy banks steadily advancing towards 

 the central parts, which Karl Bock found to be still over 80 feet deep. Below 

 the region of lakes, which are connected by narrow channels in an endless laby- 

 rinthic system, the Mahakkam, after re-uniting with iU chief affluent, continues its 

 windino- southerly course between low ranges of carboniferous hills. But beyond an 



Fig. 47. — Baeito Delta. 



Scale 1 : 1.400,000. 



Depths. 



to 32 

 Feet. 



32 to 80 

 Feet. 



SO Feet and 

 upwards. 



60 Miles. 



abrupt bend to the east its two banks, diverging to a distance of one or two miles, 

 acquire a completely alluvial character ; and here the nipa palm is the only arbo- 

 rescent growth. Here also it becomes a tidal stream, flowing, so to say, beyond the 

 mainland, and, like the Mississippi, ramifying into numerous " goose feet " amid 

 the surrounding marine waters. An exceptional spring tide, some 5 or 6 feet 



